Stockholm’s fetish scene

Hands-on lessons and demonstrations for the curious and uninitiated

The non-profit organization Dekadance arranges club nights and other events in Stockholm for Sweden’s young adults interested in fetishes, BDSM, hedonism and electronic music. Credit: dekadance.se

While Stockholm’s gay scene may not be as storied or as well known as neighbouring Denmark’s, it has emerged in recent years as a favourite European destination for the gay community. The open-minded and welcoming city actually holds the largest Pride celebration in all of Scandinavia, drawing in hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators each August. Stockholm is also not limited to having just one specific gaybourhood, as gay-friendly bars and clubs are sprinkled throughout the city.

Stockholm Pride is a rather tepid affair, with music performances over the course of a week and a Pride park equally popular with singles and families, tourists and locals. For those interested in learning more about fetishes, the Stockholm Pride park has an adults-only area called the Kinky Quarters, or Kinky Kvarteret. There, Stockholm’s biggest fetish parties and promoters provide hands-on lessons, demonstrations and information for the curious and uninitiated. It began at Stockholm Pride in 2014, and the 2015 edition was another huge success — offering a more adult area in addition to the family-friendly setting elsewhere during Stockholm Pride. The Kinky Quarters features lectures on BDSM vs abuse, latex care and strap-on sex for beginners.

For visitors to Stockholm at other times of year, there are a few regular parties and clubs hosting fetish events. And while Stockholm has a sexy reputation, the city isn’t nearly as kinky as visitors might expect. But there are a few standouts that are around regularly in addition to the city’s scattered gay bars and indie clubs.

Manhattan is a popular cruising location and the city’s largest gay cinema, playing non-stop adult videos. There are video booths, private cabins, dark rooms and glory holes. Manhattan isn’t specifically a fetish club, but the private rooms offer the opportunity to play out fetish-related fantasies. It’s an open-minded space.

US Video is another video club hotspot in Stockholm. Like Manhattan, you’ll find plenty of TVs with different types of porn being screened. There is also the usual maze of darkrooms, private cabins and glory holes. The club is especially busy on weekends. On the main floor of US Video is a large sex shop selling international movies and books, as well as sex toys, magazines and a variety of fetish attire. It’s possible to buy fetish gear in the shop before bringing it with you to one of the private rooms in the back.

Another video club option is The Basement, located in Södermalm just off a busy street and easy to find. Highlights on the inside are the cruising area, private rooms, sex shop, snack bar and free wifi. Especially appealing for fetishists is the play area with slings and glory holes. Condoms and lube are provided at the small check-in desk, where you’ll also find gay maps and flyers for other events in Stockholm. The Basement also hosts naked and underwear parties regularly throughout the year. It’s an especially busy location during Stockholm Pride week.

By far, the absolute best option for fetish enthusiasts in Stockholm is Scandinavian Leather Men (SLM). In addition to the Stockholm location, there is also a shop and club in Copenhagen. Its website describes the club as being “for men who have sex with men and get turned on by fetishes like leather, rubber, uniform, skinhead, worker and/or sports gear!” This superior club has themed nights like sports gear night, full frontal Fridays (get naked, guys!), bear parties and even piss nights. Some play amenities include a big dance floor, dark rooms, a Saint Andrew’s cross and a bootblack station. The club is open to gay men of all fetish types and is the perfect place in Stockholm to meet with other friendly, like-minded individuals. Bring your ropes, whips, chains and your best fetish attire for hours of pure hedonistic pleasure and pain. The club has a strict dress code, so be sure to dress according to the theme of the night.

The other big fetish parties in Stockholm are the ones organized by Dekadance — a non-profit organization arranging club nights and other events for Sweden’s young adults interested in fetishes, BDSM, hedonism and electronic music. Membership is required in advance (at least 24 hours before any event) and can be done online or via email. During Stockholm Pride, the organization puts on the annual PervPride Party, a celebration of fetishism and BDSM. As usual, the parties often have strict dress codes, though changing rooms are provided on-site.